England U20s succeeded where their senior counterparts twice failed by defeating Portugal on penalties in Coimbra.
Aidy Boothroyd’s Young Lions held the same group of players who finished second in this year’s European U19 Championship to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, with Southampton left-back Matt Targett scoring the visitors’ goal.
Portugal 1-1 England
England win 4-3 on penalties
Under-20 International
Monday 17 November 2014
Estadio Sergio Conceicao
Coimbra, Portugal
Gelson Martins equalised for Portugal after an hour, but England prevailed on penalties to make some amends for the spot-kick defeats at Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006.
The victory leaves England unbeaten over seven games this term, with Portugal, Germany, and Holland among their scalps.
England made eight changes from last week’s 2-2 draw with Canada in Bournemouth, with six of those players – including Manchester United’s James Wilson - having played first-team club football this season.
And yet they were up against a vastly experienced Portugal side with almost four times as many international caps to their name.
England were undeterred, though, and started the stronger at Estadio Sergio Conceicao.
The opener came on 29 minutes, when Wilson forced an excellent save from Andre Moreira in the Portugal goal, and Targett was on hand to fire home.
England played more than a third of the match in the lead, but Portugal forced their way back into the game and equalised on the hour mark, when Nuno Santos floated in a corner for Portugal and Gelson Martins volleyed home.
The hosts grew in confidence and Brighton & Hove Albion keeper Christian Walton had to deny Rebocho, Andre Silva and Simao Azevedo before the match went to penalties.
The substitute Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom and Chelsea’s Lewis Baker traded penalties with Silva and Nuno Santos.
But Estrela missed, and Wilson buried his to put England ahead. Rebocho replied successfully for Portugal, only for Targett to hit the net for the second time in the match.
Then Helinho failed from the spot, handing victory to England, and ensuring that Boothroyd’s side end the calendar year in style.
Portugal U20s: 12 Andre Moreira; 2 Rafael Ramos, 3 Joao Nunes, 5 Rebocho, 6 Tomas Podstawaski (captain), 7 Raphael Guzzo, 8 Francisco Ramos, 9 Andre Silva, 10 Gelson Martins, 14 Domingos Duarte, 17 Daniel Podence.
Substitutes: 1 Tiago Sa (GK), 22 Guilherme Oliviera (GK), 4 Nelson Monte, 11 Nuno Santos, 13 Braima Cande, 15 Helinho, 16 Nuno Tomas, 18 Simao Azevedo, 19 Joao Vigario, 20 Joao Graca, 21 Nene, 23 Estrela.
Goal: Gelson Martins 60.
Head coach: Helio Sousa.
England U20s (4-3-3): 1 Christian Walton (Brighton & Hove Albion); 2 Dominic Iorfa (Wolverhampton Wanderers, 5 Dominic Ball (Tottenham Hotspur), 6 Kortney Hause (Gillingham on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), 3 Matt Targett (Southampton); 4 Lewis Baker (captain; Chelsea), 8 Harrison Reed (Southampton), 10 Josh Harrop (Manchester United); 11 Josh Murphy (Norwich City), 9 James Wilson (Manchester United), 11 Jordon Ibe (Derby County on loan from Liverpool)
Substitutes: 16 Kwame Thomas (Derby County) for Ibe 59, 15 Chuba Akpom (Arsenal) for Harrop 69.
Substitutes not used: 13 Angus Gunn (GK; Manchester City), 12 Baily Cargill (AFC Bournemouth), 14 John Swift (Rotherham on loan from Chelsea), 15 Chuba Akpom (Arsenal), 17 Lloyd Jones (Liverpool), 18 Paul Digby (Barnsley).
Goal: Targett 29.
Head coach: Aidy Boothroyd.
Referee: Andre Moreira (Portugal)
Assistants: Nuno Cadete and Gracindo Vieira.
